BUDDING political speakers took centre stage at West Hatch High School recently.

The youngsters were competing in the final of the second Epping Forest Schools Parliamentary Debating competition, organised by Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing.

Chigwell School pupils Rachel Lund, 15, from Buckhurst Hill, and Rahul Bhome, 15, from Barkingside won the title, with their High Road school now set to host next year's final.

The six teams - three speaking for the motion and three against - had to debate "that technology endangers the future of mankind."

The audience voted against the motion at the end of the evening.

Rahul told the Guardian afterwards: "We've been preparing for the last two weeks and a lot of time and effort has gone into it. We're glad it's paid off."

The judging panel was Epping Forest Conservative Association chairman Valerie Metcalfe, Theydon Bois Primary School headteacher Elspeth Bonds and West Essex Guardian editor David Jackman.

Each of the finalists received a copy of the Oxford Dictionary of Political Quotations, and will be Mrs Laing's guests at the House of Commons.

Mrs Laing said: "We've all enjoyed the lively arguments and we were impressed by the polite and mature way in which the debate was conducted. It's clear that there are a lot of future stars coming through our schools and we really look forward to watching them progress as they go up through school and on to university."

Also taking part were Ben Glassman and Shiv Chopra (Chigwell), Rachel Wetherfield and Oliver Gregory (Roding Valley), Daniel Miles and Ayla Heath (West Hatch), Natalie Chapman and Michael Wheeler (Roding Valley), and Charlotte Venables and Tom Oldham (Davenant).